Ladies, we all know that our monthly cycles can be a nightmare. Well, forget haunted houses and evil clowns—the scariest thing on screen this year might be your period. The new feature film The Cramps: A Period Piece is here to turn the pain and nightmare of menstrual cramps into a wild, unforgettable film.
This unforgettable film follows Agnes Applewhite. She’s a young woman who defies her old-fashioned wishes to secure a job at a beauty salon. But as she starts her journey to find herself, she experiences debilitating cramps that are more than just a minor inconvenience. These cramps are so bad that they start blurring the line between reality and nightmare, for both her and everyone around her. We’re talking monstrous cramps here, people!
A Twisted Cinematic Trip
Director Brooke H. Cellars is the mastermind behind this unique film. She describes it as a wild mix of the irreverence of John Waters, the macabre style of Mario Bava, and the dreamlike vibe of Federico Fellini. It’s a “love-slash-hate letter” to the silent battles that people with uteruses endure, as well as Cellars’ own experiences with endometriosis. It’s a condition she describes as a “creature” taking over her insides. This is something many women can identify with.
Brooke H. Cellars (she/they) is a multifaceted filmmaker. She has directed eight short films since 2018. Her adoration for all things horror started when she was a kid. Cellers’ first screenplay, adapted into the short film “The Chills,” won Best Screenplay at the 2020 Houston Horror Fest. Her most recent short film, Violet Butterfield: Makeup Artist for the Dead, has screened in over 30 film festivals worldwide and has won multiple awards, including the Abby Normal Award at Portland Horror Fest, the Audience Award at Final Girls Berlin, and both the Jury and Audience awards at Overlook Film Festival.
Now Showing at Fantastic Fest
The film, making its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025, stars Lauren Kitchen, Brooklyn Woods, Harlie Madison, and others. It has a talented crew, including Madeleine Yawn and Wicken Taylor, and from the sounds of it, it’s going to be a cinematic ride you won’t forget!
